Postdoc in Integrated Agronomic – Genomic – Remote Sensing Data Fusion

Are you passionate about integrating agronomic, genomic, and remote sensing data to better understand plant stress, disease progression, and crop resilience? Do you enjoy working across field campaigns, laboratory analysis, and advanced data systems? Then this postdoctoral position within the ESA-funded HYDRA-EO project (ESA Tender ITT 1-242-649, Crop Multiple Stressors, Pests and Diseases) is an excellent opportunity for you.

HYDRA-EO focuses on the multi-scale detection of biotic and abiotic stress in Mediterranean crops using UAV hyperspectral and thermal imagery, radiative transfer modelling, agronomic field measurements, and genetic markers. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will develop an integrated data framework to combine remote sensing observations, phenotypic measurements, and genomic datasets into a coherent analytical pipeline to support early disease detection and trait interpretation across Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

HYDRA-EO focuses on the multi-scale detection of biotic and abiotic stress in Mediterranean crops using UAV hyperspectral and thermal imagery, radiative transfer modelling, agronomic field measurements, and genetic markers. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will develop an integrated data framework to combine remote sensing observations, phenotypic measurements, and genomic datasets into a coherent analytical pipeline to support early disease detection and trait interpretation across the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain.

You will play a key coordinating role in the 2026 airborne and field campaigns in these countries, facilitating sampling plans, metadata protocols, genetic–phenotypic data integration, and communication between European partners. Your work will directly contribute to the scientific developments of HYDRA-EO and to the preparation of next-generation Earth Observation applications for crop stress monitoring.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Integrate multi-source datasets (remote sensing, agronomic traits, phenotyping records, and genomic markers) into a unified analytical framework.
• Conduct field scouting to identify biotic and abiotic stress symptoms in crops, coordinate sampling activities, and ensure accurate collection of phenotypic information across sites.
• Support the design, implementation, and coordination of UAV hyperspectral and thermal field campaigns in Netherlands, Italy and Spain.
• Process and harmonize phenotyping, genetic, and canopy-level remote sensing measurements for multi-stressor disease detection.
• Collaborate with plant physiologists, geneticists, and remote sensing specialists to link spectral traits with biochemical and genetic variation.
• Contribute to scientific publications, methodological reports, and data standards for HYDRA-EO.
• Communicate effectively with international project partners and stakeholders to support coordinated data collection and field campaign planning in the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain.

Your team

You will be part of the Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing (GRS) at Wageningen University, collaborating closely with researchers working on hyperspectral imaging, radiative transfer modelling, machine learning, agronomy, and plant genetics. You will also work with HYDRA-EO partners in Netherlands, Spain and Italy, contributing to multi-scale crop disease studies and joint field campaigns.

You are an independent, highly motivated researcher with solid interdisciplinary experience in agronomy and plant genetics, and a growing foundation in spatial data analysis.

 You also possess:

• A PhD in agricultural, biological, plant or environmental sciences, or a closely related field;
• Proven experience in phenotyping, DNA extraction, molecular analysis, QTL analysis, and quantitative genetics;
• Practical experience in identifying biotic and abiotic stress symptoms in crops, conducting field scouting, and coordinating sampling activities;
• Experience with field sampling, trait measurement, and integration of multi-source datasets;
• Familiarity with GIS, spatial data management, and basic remote sensing workflows;
• Experience in writing scientific papers and working within multidisciplinary research teams;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to coordinate sampling and fieldwork across international partners; fluency in Spanish and working proficiency in Italian (B2) are highly recommended for supporting the aerial campaigns conducted in Spain and Italy;
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English (minimum Level B1-B2).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience integrating agronomic and genetic datasets;
• Practical fieldwork experience, including the identification of plant pests and diseases, agronomic assessments, leaf sampling, and coordination of field activities across multiple sites;
• Experience in GIS and remote sensing (training will be provided);
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in international teams;
• Interest in developing workflows linking plant genetics, phenotyping, and Earth-Observation-derived traits.

You will work here

You will work as part of a research team within the Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing (GRS), which is led by Dr. Carlos Camino Gonzalez.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.546,- and € 5.538,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). We have funding available for one full-time year. If you prefer a part-time appointment, the total project duration can be extended accordingly. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Carlos Camino Gonzalez via e-mail: carlos.caminogonzalez@wur.nl

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, via e-mail jessa.rozema-stol@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply until January 27, 2026.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure.

​The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

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